top Hear it!

top¹ Definition

top (täp)

noun

  1. Obsolete
    1. a tuft of hair
    2. the hair of the head
  2. the head, or crown of the head: now chiefly in top to toe
  3. the upper or highest part, section, point, or surface of anything the top of a hill
  4. the part of a plant that grows above ground beet tops
  5. something that constitutes the uppermost part or covering of something else; specif.,
    1. a lid, cover, cap, etc. a box top, bottle top
    2. the upper part of an automobile body, esp. a folding roof or cover
    3. a platform around the head of each lower mast of a sailing ship, to which the rigging of the topmast is attached
    1. the upper part of a two-piece garment, esp. for a woman a pajama top
    2. any upper garment for a woman, often, specif., one other than a shirt or blouse
  7. a person or thing first in order, excellence, importance, etc.; specif.,
    1. the highest degree or pitch; zenith; acme at the top of one's voice, the top of one's career
    2. the highest rank, position, etc. at the top in one's profession
    3. a person in this rank, etc.
    4. the choicest part; pick; cream the top of the crop, top of the morning
    5. the beginning, as of a piece of music take it from the top
    6. ☆ Baseball the first half (of an inning)
  8. Slang something or someone that is preeminent in quality, ability, popularity, etc.; the very best: used predicatively (often with the)
  9. Card Games the highest cards of a suit
  10. Chem. the most volatile part of a mixture
  11. Sports
    1. a stroke that hits the ball above center or near its top
    2. the forward spin given the ball by such a stroke

Etymology: ME < OE topp, akin to ON toppr, tuft, top, Ger zopf, tuft of hair, summit

adjective

of, situated at, or being the top; uppermost, highest, greatest, or foremost the top drawer, top honors

transitive verb topped, top′·ping

  1. to take off the top of (a plant, etc.)
    1. to provide or cover with a top
    2. to put or place on the top of
  3. to be a top for
  4. to reach the top of; be on a level with
  5. to exceed in amount, height, degree, etc. a fish topping 75 pounds
  6. to be better, more effective, funnier, etc. than; surpass; outdo
  7. to go over the top of (a rise of ground, etc.)
  8. to be at the top of; head; lead
  9. Chem. to remove the volatile parts from by distillation
  10. Dyeing to finish with a certain dye
  11. Sports
    1. to hit or stroke (a ball) at a point above its center or near its top, giving it a forward spin
    2. to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way

intransitive verb

to top someone or something (in any sense)

top¹ Idioms

blow one's top

☆

see blow one's stack at blow

off the top

Slang from gross income

off the top of one's head

☆

speaking offhand, without careful thought

on top

at the top; successful

on top of

  1. on or at the top of
  2. resting upon
  3. in addition to; besides
  4. following immediately after
  5. controlling successfully

over the top

  1. over the front of a trench, as in attacking
  2. exceeding the assigned quota or goal
  3. Informal beyond the limits of good taste, propriety, or self-restraint; excessive

top off

  1. to complete by adding a finishing touch
  2. Informal to fill to the top

top out

☆
  1. to complete the skeleton or framework of (a building, esp. a skyscraper)
  2. to fill or rise to the top
  3. to reach a peak, maximum, etc.

top up

Chiefly Brit.
  1. to fill to the top
  2. to increase to the highest level, amount, etc.
top² Definition

top (täp)

noun

a child's cone-shaped toy, spun on its pointed end

Etymology: < OE, prob. special use of top

top² Idioms

sleep like a top

to sleep soundly

top Synonyms

top

modif.

  1. Highest

    topmost, uppermost, highest, on the upper end; see highest.

    Antonyms bottommost, lowest*, bottom. *

  2. Best

    prime, head, first, among the first; see best 1.

top Synonyms

top

n.

  1. The uppermost portion

    peak, summit, crown, head, crest, tip, apex, cap, crowning point, acme, headpiece, capital, pinnacle, zenith, consummation, spire, knap, finial; see also height 1.

    Antonyms bottom*, lower end, nadir. *

  2. A cover

    lid, roof, ceiling; see cover 1.

  3. A spinning toy

    spinner, peg top, whipping top, musical top, whistling top, teetotum, put-and-take top, dreidel; see also toy 1.

  4. *The leader

    head, captain, chief, master; see chief 1, leader 2.

blow one's top*

lose one's temper, become angry, be enraged; see rage 1.

off the top of one's head*

speaking offhand, chatting, casually, off the cuff; see extemporaneous.

on top

prosperous, thriving, superior, at the top; see successful.

top Synonyms

top

v.

  1. To remove the top

    prune, lop off, trim, cut off, decapitate, scrape off, pare down, shave off, amputate, file off, pollard, truncate, shear; see also cut 1.

  2. To exceed

    better, beat, excel, surpass, go beyond, overrun; see also exceed.

    Antonyms approach*, approximate*, come near to.

  3. To apply topping

    cover, dye, roof, superimpose, spread over, hood, cloak, screen, protect, reinforce, clothe, coat; see also paint 2.

top Usage Examples

Object

  • chart: Aston Students ' Guild Aston Students ' Guild forums Entertainment Music that topped the charts.

Converse of object

  • reach: On reaching the top we were relieved to find that someone had already kindly broken trail for the rest of the walk.

Modifies a noun

  • corner: Windows can be closed by hitting the ' small cross ' icon in the top right corner of the window.
  • tip: Our Nutrition Team is here with 10 top tips to keep you on track on your trip!
  • priority: In 1998, senior Trust managers agreed that the development of A&E was a top priority.
  • scorer: Top scorer Dean Windass proved instrumental in the Tigers successes and brought a steady stream of visiting scouts to Boothferry Park.
  • prise: The top prize, a 2002 Mini Cooper car, was donated by BAE Systems Chairman, Sir Richard Evans.
  • floor: I was born in Dulwich Hospital in 1967 on the top floor.

Noun used with modifier

  • cliff: The ruins of the Abbey high on the cliff top dominate the town and speak of its religious history.
  • desk: They can be made flat and take up far less space on the desk top.

Used with why or when

  • How: Back to top How many poems should you study?
  • What: Back to top What is the nearest station to The Valley?
  • who: Back to top Who do I contact about charity donations?
  • why: Back to top Why might I be tested for sickle cell anemia?

Preposition: of

  • page: Back to top of page Logged calls closure rates.
  • hill: Magnificent stones still stand at Nigg ( in the church ) and above Shandwick ( at the top of the hill ).
  • screen: You may view your cart contents at any time by clicking the View Your Basket link at the top of the screen.
  • mountain: By the time the Team had set off, she had managed to help them to the top of the mountain.
  • agenda: Councilor Barr asked that this matter be placed on the top of the agenda for the Minister's meeting.
  • stair: What they want is to take the risk of exploring that unknown place, the dark at the top of the stairs.
top Quotes

There is always room at the top.

—Webster, Daniel

Agreement reached by the negotiators†usually starts to collapse in the hands of those who implement it, no matter how carefully cleared at the top.

—Shultz, George P(ratt)

I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more, But dipped its top and set me down again. That would be good both going and coming back. One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

—Frost, Robert Lee

What soul was his, when, from the naked top Of some bold headland, he beheld the sun Rise up, and bathe the world in light! He lookedö Ocean and earth, the solid frame of earth And ocean's liquid mass, in gladness lay Beneath him:öFar and wide the clouds were touched, And in their silent faces he could read Unutterable love.

—Wordsworth,William

Let us descend now therefore from this top Of speculation.

—Milton,John

   I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop But if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top.

—Porter, Cole

You can't climb up to the second floor without a ladder. When you set your aim too high and don't fulfil it, then your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that's reasonable, and then gradually raise it. That's the only way to get to the top.

—Zatopek, Emil

   Scientists should be on tap, but not on top.

—Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

I started at the top and worked down.

—Welles, (George) Orson

I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole.

—Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

   You're the top You're the Louvr'Museum You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss.

—Porter, Cole